System and method for in-layer synchronization for fast spot rescanning
Granted: December 8, 2020
Patent Number:
10857392
To overcome the difficulties inherent in conventional proton therapy systems, new techniques are described herein for synchronizing the application of proton radiation with the periodic movement of a target area. In an embodiment, a method is provided that combines multiple rescans of a spot scanning proton beam while monitoring the periodic motion of the target area, and aligning the applications of the proton beam with parameters of the periodic motion. For example, the direction(s)…
Controlling and shaping the dose distribution outside treatment targets in external-beam radiation treatments
Granted: December 8, 2020
Patent Number:
10857384
Streamlined and partially automated methods of setting normal tissue objectives in radiation treatment planning are provided. These methods may be applied to multiple-target cases as well as single-target cases. The methods can impose one or more target-specific dose falloff constraints around each target, taking into account geometric characteristics of each target such as target volume and shape. In some embodiments, methods can also take into account a planner's preferences for target…
Systems and methods for interactive control of window/level parameters of multi-image displays
Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10854173
A technology enables interactive control of simultaneously displayed multiple images with high dynamic ranges, which software automation processes are programmed to reduce the complexity in managing and viewing the post window/level adjustment of the multiple images. An image control engine provides several synchronous functional capabilities, which comprises an input module, a blending factor synchronization module, a window/level synchronization module, a display module, and an image…
Dose-distribution estimation in proton therapy
Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10850129
A system for estimating a dose from a proton therapy plan includes a memory that stores machine instructions and a processor coupled to the memory that executes the machine instructions to subdivide a representation of a volume of interest in a patient anatomy traversed by a planned proton field into a plurality of voxels. The processor further executes the machine instructions to determine the distance from the source of the planned proton beam to one of the voxels. The processor also…
Dose aspects of radiation therapy planning and treatment
Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10850124
Radiation treatment planning includes accessing values of parameters such as a number of beams to be directed into sub-volumes in a target, beam directions, and beam energies. Information that specifies limits for the radiation treatment plan are accessed. The limits include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target. Other limits can include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume in the target, a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume in the target, and…
Selecting a dose prediction model based on clinical goals
Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10850120
A clinical goal for radiation treatment of a patient is set. A dose prediction model is selected from a number of dose prediction models based on the clinical goal. A radiation treatment plan is then generated for the patient using the dose prediction model that was selected based on the clinical goal.
Biomarkers for radiation treatment
Granted: November 24, 2020
Patent Number:
10844437
The methods described herein allow for the classification of patients into groups for receiving optimized radiation treatment based on patient specific biomarker signature. The biomarker signature includes markers that have been shown to correlate with TGF-B expression and to be associated with tumor aggressiveness, radioresistance and poor prognosis. The markers play a key role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The methods described herein provide the dual benefits of anti-tumor…
Particle beam gun control systems and methods
Granted: November 24, 2020
Patent Number:
10843011
Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective monitoring of particle beams. In some embodiments, a radiation gun system comprises: a particle beam gun that generates a particle beam, and a gun control component that controls the gun particle beam generation characteristics, including particle beam fidelity characteristics. The particle beam characteristics can be compatible with FLASH radiation therapy. Resolution control of the particle beam generation can enable dose…
Projection mapping of radiation suites
Granted: November 24, 2020
Patent Number:
10842454
A radiation suite includes a room having a floor, a ceiling, and one or more walls, a radiation system including a gantry enclosing a radiation source and a couch, and an image projection system operable to project an image on a projection surface on at least a portion of the gantry and/or the couch, providing a calming environment for a patient to relax. The image projection system comprises a computer and one or more projectors operably controlled by the computer. The computer…
Methods to optimize coverage for multiple targets simultaneously for radiation treatments
Granted: November 17, 2020
Patent Number:
10835760
A cost function is constructed so as to guide an optimization process to achieve similar coverage for all targets simultaneously in a concurrent radiation treatment of multiple targets, so that a single scaling factor may be used in a plan normalization to achieve the desired coverage for all the targets. The cost function includes a component that favors a solution that attains similar target coverages for all targets, as well as a component that favors a solution that approaches the…
Optimizing radiation dose to overlapping structures
Granted: November 10, 2020
Patent Number:
10828509
In radiation therapy, treatment objectives applicable to different identified structures in a patient's body (e.g., a target structure and an organ at risk (OAR)) may conflict due to overlap between the structures. Automated systems and methods can detect and resolve such conflicts. For example, a set of modified regions that do not overlap with each other can be defined, and a modified treatment objective for each modified region can be determined based on the original treatment…
Systems and methods for providing medical information and for performing a medically-related process using augmented reality technology
Granted: November 3, 2020
Patent Number:
10825251
An apparatus for use in a medical process that involves a particle accelerator, includes: a processing unit configured to obtain medical information, obtain a viewing direction of a user of the apparatus, and process the medical information based on the viewing direction of the user of the apparatus to create a graphical representation of the medical information for presentation to the user of the apparatus; and a screen for displaying the graphical representation.
Radiation treatment based on dose rate
Granted: October 27, 2020
Patent Number:
10814144
A dose rate-volume histogram can be generated for a target volume. The dose rate-volume histogram can be stored in computer system memory and used to generate a radiation treatment plan. The radiation treatment plan can be used as the basis for treating a patient using a radiation treatment system.
Medical systems with patient supports
Granted: October 20, 2020
Patent Number:
10806409
A patient supporting device includes: a base configured to translate in a room; a first member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first member is rotatably coupled to the base so that the first member is rotatable relative to the base about a first vertical axis; a second member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second member is rotatably coupled to the second end of the first member so that the second member is rotatable…
Streamlined, guided on-couch adaptive workflow
Granted: October 13, 2020
Patent Number:
10799716
Systems and methods for implementing an adaptive therapy workflow that minimizes time needed to create a session patient model, select an appropriate plan for the treatment session, and treat the patient.
Aggregation of artificial intelligence (AI) engines
Granted: October 6, 2020
Patent Number:
10796793
Example methods and systems for generating an aggregated artificial intelligence (AI) engine for radiotherapy treatment planning are provided. One example method may include obtaining multiple AI engines associated with respective multiple treatment planners; generating multiple sets of output data using the multiple AI engines associated with the respective multiple treatment planners: comparing the multiple AI engines associated with the respective multiple treatment planners based on…
Automatic generation of radiation treatment plan optimization objectives
Granted: October 6, 2020
Patent Number:
10792514
Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments a memory stores prescribed treatment instructions for a particular patient radiation therapy. Those treatment instructions specify clinical metrics for goals pertaining to at least one treatment volume for the particular patient. Either directly or inferentially those clinical metrics are prioritized. A control circuit automatically converts those treatment instructions into resultant radiation treatment plan optimization…
Method and apparatus for performing irradiation time optimization for intensity modulated proton therapy during treatment planning while maintaining acceptable irradiation plan quality
Granted: September 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10786687
A computer implemented method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system based on given dose volume constraints, wherein the resultant treatment plan is optimized for treatment time comprises accessing the dose volume constraints and range information, wherein the range information indicates acceptable deviations from the dose volume constraints. Based on the proton radiation therapy system, the method further comprises accessing machine configuration…
System and method for estimating and manipulating estimated radiation dose
Granted: September 15, 2020
Patent Number:
10773101
Methods are provided for permitting manipulation of an achievable dose distribution estimate deliverable by a radiation delivery apparatus for proposed treatment of a subject. One such method comprises: determining a dose modification voxel for which it is desired to modify the dose value and a corresponding magnitude of desired dose modification; for each of a plurality of beams: (i) characterizing the beam as a two-dimensional array of beamlets, wherein each beamlet is associated with…
LINAC simulator
Granted: September 15, 2020
Patent Number:
10776534
A LINear particle ACcelerator (LINAC) simulator employs a Monte Carlo-based use of repeated random sampling to produce a simulated result representing use of a particular physical medical-services LINAC with particular corresponding real-world parameters. A browser-based user opportunity permits uploading at least some of those real-world parameters to employ when using the LINAC simulator to produce the simulated result. By one approach the browser-based user opportunity includes, at…
